City flats drugs den

A block of flats in Lichfield has been turned into a drugs den by junkies who are making residents' lives a misery, they said today.

Needles, candles, silver paper and other drugs paraphenalia are regularly found around Charnwood House in Dimbles Lane.

One resident said the situation had got so bad he refused to allow his children to visit him at home.

Independent campaigner John Walker said it the problem had been growing at the Midland Heart housing association building for several months.

"It is a meeting area for drugs and it has to be stamped out," he said. "It is destroying the quality of life for the people who live there.

"People are lying on stairs injecting themselves, you have never seen anything like it and we can't allow it to carry on. It is disgraceful."

He called for a bigger police presence in the area.

"The police are dragging their feet on this issue," he added. "They need to show their faces."

One resident, who did not want to be identified, said: "They leave used needles stuck in the carpet in the foyer, candles in the communal areas and silver paper.

"I am just fed up, I won't let my children visit me, I don't want them to see it."

Sue Caley, of Midland Heart's housing management department, said: "We will be working with residents and the police to investigate the matter."

Lichfield inspector Mike Kozam said: "We have carried out a number of drug raids in the north Lichfield area and a number of people have been arrested and we will look at this area as well.

"We will also be speaking to Midland Heart to see if measures can be taken to stop unauthorised access to Charnwood House."

Inspector Kozam appealed for anyone with information to call the area officer Pc Gurney Manak on 08453 302010.

By Victoria Hoe